In all Britain has won the title nine times, however that last of those triumphs came in 1936. He should have looked back, not forward.
Advertisement
Nadal will face Murray on Wednesday, while Wawrinka takes on Ferrer.
Murray has been splitting his preparation time for the two tournaments on both surfaces, and it showed.
World number two Murray will make his final bow against Ruben Bemelmans – the world number 108 – in the second singles match, before joining forces with his brother Jamie for Saturday’s doubles match.
This weekend sees Great Britain and Belgium meet in the Davis Cup final, to be held in Ghent on red clay.
“This will be the biggest crowd I’ve played in front of, and it will be the biggest occasion”, said Edmund, speaking at a news conference after being preferred to James Ward, whose victory over John Isner in the first-round tie against the United States in March was instrumental in Britain ending up in this hangar.
‘I’m happy to take as much pressure on my shoulders as is needed, ‘ he said. “Once we got here and got into the hotel, came to the venue and saw what it was like here, I think that made everyone a lot more comfortable”.
“I don’t think Andy does justice in presenting himself”. Everyone, when they’ve been asked to, stepped up and performed extremely well in the Davis Cup.
“I don’t know Kyle a lot”. He has a lot of firepower out there. It’s something I’m going to have to learn as I go through the match. “Looking at it as Belgium versus me is actually counterproductive to them, if that’s the case”. The teams were friendly but wary at the draw on Thursday.
If backing an odds-on shot, I’d much prefer the 4/6 about GB winning the tie in the fourth rubber – that’s exactly how captain Leon Smith will have things panning out in his own mind. “To win the biggest team competition in tennis, having beaten the other three Grand Slam nations, I think it would be a huge victory for everyone”, Murray said.
The combatants, meanwhile, are all searingly aware of the seriousness of the engagement.
Belgium is bidding for its first title in its first final in 111 years – when it lost 5-0 to Britain at Wimbledon.
In what is otherwise nearly exclusively an individual sport, the team setting that the Davis Cup provides is both exciting and intriguing, in that we don’t know how players will react to a situation where they’re not just playing for themselves.
While Kyle Edmund’s face isn’t even on the promotional posters for the Davis Cup final, and he could probably stroll around this city’s bridges and walkways without attracting too many second glances, the 20-year-old from Yorkshire will take centre stage on Friday. That is an extraordinary contribution from one family.
Belgium selected 27-year-old No108 Ruben Bemelmans in place of No84 Steve Darcis-perhaps a surprise given that he had not won a match this year on clay at any level of the tour, and that Darcis had won four singles rubbers en route to the final.
Advertisement
Edmund has reached a career high ranking of 99 this year, but will make his Davis Cup debut on Friday against Bemelmans.
